Sheriff Merlin Hayes Koerner was selected by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners to complete the unexpired term of his father, Sheriff Phillip Charles Koerner, who had died unexpectedly from a long term illness. Sheriff Koerner took office on Monday, August 5, 1935 and quickly made his mark on the Lincoln County Community, carrying on the family tradition. His commitment to duty and his “efficient law enforcement” approach brought him state-wide notoriety in Law Enforcement circles.

Sheriff Koerner was a member of the National Sheriffs' Association and the Colorado Sheriff and Peace Officers' Association, having served as president of this group in 1958 and '59. He served as the Sheriff of Lincoln County for nearly 26 years, running unopposed each election since 1942, a testament to the high regard in which he was held by the community he served.

Sheriff Koerner was on duty and en route to serve a Search Warrant on Monday, June 19, 1961. At approximately 4:30 pm, Sheriff Koerner was northbound on Lake Street (now 4th Avenue) in the town of Hugo, in central Lincoln County. His 1959 Ford patrol car was struck broadside by a cattle truck traveling west as he crossed US Highway 40/287. Sheriff Koerner sustained severe injuries and he passed away at approximately 8:45 pm that evening in a Denver area emergency room.

In 2007, Sheriff Tom Nestor instituted an annual Memorial Day Service, conducted by members of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and community volunteers, with an Honor Guard consisting of the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and several members of the Detention Staff performing a 21-gun salute. Sheriff Nestor’s vision of this Service was “…to finally honor the dedication and ultimate sacrifice of this public servant.” To date, Sheriff Koerner is the only Lincoln County Sheriff's Officer to have lost his life in the line of duty.

Officer Jay Sheridan was shot and killed as he and other officersserved a fugitive arrest warrant at approximately 6:10 pm.

As the officers entered the mobile home where the subject livedthe man opened fire on them, fatally wounding Officer Sheridan.Two other officers on the scene remained in another room in thehome and called for assistance.

The subject was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot woundlater in the evening after a SWAT team made entry into thehome.

Officer Sheridan had served with the Limon Police Department for six years. He is survived by his wife and child.